The Greatest Saga of the Icelanders. The saga of Burnt Njal is the greatest of the Sagas of Icelanders. Its main heroes, loyal friends Gunnar and Njal, both meet tragic fates in the newly settled Iceland of 990-1010. The brave and strong Gunnar is killed as a result of a long process started by his beautiful, but errant wife Hallgerd. The wise and prescient Njal cannot prevent enemies of his imprudent sons from killing them by setting fire to their house, remaining by their side to the end with his strong-willed wife Bergthora.